Highest Skill Level Definition

The skill level that is your Highest Skill Level depends on the type of event you are participating in.  The definition of Highest Skill Level for each of our Championship Tournaments are shown below:

APA 8-Ball World Championship and 9-Ball World Championship (World Pool Championships)

Your Highest Skill Level in the World Pool Championships is the highest of the following:

1. the skill level that you/your team believe represents your best pool playing ability;
2. your current APA assigned skill level;
3. your highest skill level in any APA League area in which you currently play;
4. the skill level assigned to you by your local Handicap Advisory Committee (HAC) or APA’s Handicap Review Committee (the “HRC”); 
5. the skill level assigned to you during any prior Higher Level Tournament (including any National Singles Championship, National Team Championship, Poolplayer Championships, or World Pool Championships) or Higher Level Tournament qualifier (except in the rare circumstance in which APA has granted a previously requested exception submitted by the League Operator of a League you have played in);
6. your session-ending skill level in the session in which the Team qualified for the World Qualifiers;
7. your highest skill level at the end of any session occurring after the session in which the team qualified for the World Qualifiers;
8. your skill level at the end of the World Qualifiers when qualified; or
9. a skill level 3, unless you are a female (see the Minimum Championship Skill Level rule).  

8-Ball Classic and 9-Ball Shootout

Your Highest Skill Level in the 8-Ball Classic and 9-Ball Shootout shall be the highest of the following:

1. the skill level that you believe represents your best pool playing ability;
2. your current APA assigned skill level;
3. your highest skill level in any APA League area in which you currently play;
4. the skill level assigned to you by your local Handicap Advisory Committee (HAC) or APA’s Handicap Review Committee (the “HRC”);
5. the skill level assigned to you during any prior Higher Level Tournament (including any National Singles Championship, National Team Championship, Poolplayer Championships, or World Pool Championships) or Higher Level Tournament qualifier (except in the rare circumstance in which APA has granted a previously requested exception submitted by the League Operator of a League you have played in);
6. the highest skill level that was assigned to you during the Local Qualifier Board;
7.  the highest skill level assigned to you since you won the Local Qualifier Board; or
8. a skill level 3, unless you are a female (see the Minimum Championship Skill Level rule).

Showdown Series Championships

Your Highest Skill Level for any Showdown Series Championship, other than the Masters Championship, shall be the highest of the following: 

1. the skill level that you/your team believe represents your best pool playing ability;
2. your current APA assigned skill level;
3. your highest skill level in any APA League area in which you currently play;
4. the skill level assigned to you by your local Handicap Advisory Committee (HAC) or APA’s Handicap Review Committee (the “HRC”);
5. the skill level assigned to you during any prior Higher Level Tournament (including any National Singles Championship, National Team Championship, Poolplayer Championships, or World Pool Championships) or Higher Level Tournament qualifier (except in the rare circumstance in which APA has granted a previously requested exception submitted by the League Operator of a League you have played in);
6. your session-ending skill level in the session in which you qualified for the Championship Tournament;
7. your highest skill level at the end of any session occurring after the session in which the team qualified for this Championship;
8.  your skill level at the end of any tournament through which you qualified for this Championship;
9. a skill level 3, unless you are a female (see the Minimum Championship Skill Level rule).